Washington, Apr 20 (ANI): Michigan scientists have unravelled the
mystery behind the much hyped healing power of the main ingredient in
turmeric, a spice revered in India as 'holy powder.'

Turmeric has been used for centuries in folk medicine to treat
wounds, infections, and other health problems.

While many scientists have conducted research on its main
ingredient-curcumin-no details had been revealed as to how it functions
in the body, until now.

In the new study, Ayyalusamy Ramamoorthy and colleagues, used a
high-tech instrument termed solid-state NMR spectroscopy and discovered
that molecules of curcumin act like a biochemical disciplinarian.

The molecules insert themselves into cell membranes and make the
membranes more stable and orderly.

This increases cells' resistance to infection by
disease-causing microbes.

The study appears in the Journal of the American Chemical Society,
a weekly publication. (ANI)

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